Sprint Loses $29.5 Billion Dollars In A Single Quarter [Failure]

I feel bad for Sprint, If it wasn't because of their crappy network, and even worst poor customer service they might have one of the best networks around. I had Sprint number for about one month.  Yeah it took me that long to figure out they were way to expensive, and when I called and bitched at them, they just didn't care.  So I canceled my line.  This ones years ago, but their Customer Service just got worse and worse.  I hope Dan Hess can bring the company around.     

Sprint has announced a fourth quarter loss of $29.5 billion, says the Chicago Tribune. The wireless carrier says it expects 1.2 million additional customers to leave this quarter, citing dropped calls and poor customer service as their reason for seeking less frustrating pastures.

Chief Executive Dan Hesse, who took over in December, said business is worse than he expected and is deteriorating.

"We need an articulated strategy of how he's going to turn around the business," said Michael Nelson, an analyst at Stanford Group Co. in New York. "I don't expect it to be a pretty picture."

Hesse knows he is facing a tough road.

"We will have a difficult 2008 as we turn this ship around," Hesse said on a conference call with analysts. "This turnaround will not happen for many quarters."

Sprint is trying to stop the hemorrhaging by offering an unlimited plan for $99.99 a month.

Sprint records $29.5 billion net loss [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo:diaper)

Thanks to the Consumerist.com fro the story

Google gives all San Francisco homeless free voicemail

 

This is pretty nice of Google.  I give Google 2 thumps up.

Google has just announced a pretty wonderful new program, offering free lifetime phone numbers and voice mail accounts to every homeless person in San Francisco. This is designed to help them get on their feet, giving them a point of contact to give to government offices and potential employers.

The voice mail accounts, which can be checked from any phone, will allow first and foremost for doctors to get in touch with patients to give them information such as test results. But you can clearly see the many benefits that having a phone number will give to the homeless, giving them a solid base to build towards getting out of their current situations. Good on you, Google.

Via MSNBC

Mary Poppins, the Liar

 

Whaaaat? Did Mary Poppins lie 40 years ago? Robert Krulwich of ABC World News with Charles Gibson’s Webcast investigates in this hard hitting piece:

[The mystery] involves the world’s most beloved nanny, Marry Poppins, and you may recall in the movie … that Mary teaches the worlds to say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Forward and backward. But did she really?

I smell a Peabody Award: Link - Thanks Zach!

The Purple Nurple Optical Illusion

 

WARNING: IF THE IMAGE BELOW MAKES YOU DIZZY, LEAVE THIS PAGE, SCROLL DOWN OR JUST LOOK AWAY.

The Purple Nurple Optical Illusion by Walter Anthony

Neatorama reader Walt Anthony shares with us his blog, geared to educate kids about optical illusions. Walt did a good job in explaining the illusions in the post:

Anomalous Motion Optical Illusion aka Peripheral Drift Optical Illusion is characterized by anomalous motion that can be observed in peripheral vision. […]

Keep in mind that this is a static image. It is not animated in any way. but as your vision moves back and forth the center area seems to be moving toward the center (contracting) and the outer edges seem to be moving away (expanding) from the center. Also worth noting is that if you fixate on a point in the center and don’t move your eyes this anomalous motion will stop.

I also applaud him for giving credit where credits are due - most optical illusion blogs rip off images without giving any clue as of the artist.

Link to more examples of Anomalous Motion Optical Illusion | Optical Illusion 4 Kids - Thanks Walt!

Thanks to Neatorama for the article

Dutch boffin calls RIAA expert 'borderline incompetent' - The INQUIRER

ONE OF THE WORLD'S top experts in the science of P2P file sharing has offered his harsh evaluation of the RIAA's so-called expert witness report.

With what can only be described as a good dose of Dutch courage, Delft University's Assistant Professor Johan Pouwelse, dealt a devastating thump on the head to the music industry when he labeled the RIAA's super expert, Dr Doug Jacobson's report as 'borderline incompetent'.

Prof. Pouwelse is the same bloke who stopped the Dutch equivalent of the RIAA dead in their tracks back in 2005. In the UMG v Lindor trial, the RIAA claimed it had carried out its analysis with sophisticatedly advanced equipment and software which, it assured everyone, was never, ever mistaken.

But now, Ms Marie Lindor has decided to fight back with a report drafted by her very own internationally renowned expert witness. In his report, Pouwelse writes that certain procedures that should have been taken to ascertain that a particular computer had been uploading copyrighted works illegally, weren't taken.

And, taking no prisoners, Professor Pouwelse goes on to say that Jacobson, a director at the Iowa State University Information Assurance Center, lacked 'in-depth analysis', 'proper scientific scrutiny' and that his reports were 'factually erroneous' and frequently contradicted his own deposition testimony.

Going for the jugular, Powelse describes the systems and techniques used in the indictment of Ms Lindor as 'overly simplistic', Jacobson's investigative process as 'unprofessional' and his methods 'self-developed', 'unpublished' and unaccepted by the scientific community.

He concludes by giving his expert opinion that Jacobson has shown 'borderline incompetence'.

thanks to The Inquirer.net for the article.